Air valve for a cap provided with mouthpiece for drinking

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an air valve ( 13 ) for a cap ( 2 ) of a liquid container, comprising an annular membrane. Said cap ( 2 ) has at least one air passage opening ( 19 ). A holding element ( 21 ) having an encircling groove ( 24 ) that is open toward the inside of the cap is fixed to the inside of the cap. This holding element ( 21 ) has at least one air inlet opening ( 20 ), which is connected to the air passage opening ( 19 ) of the cap ( 2 ) and which leads into the groove ( 24 ). A ring ( 11 ) can be placed or is placed inside the groove ( 24 ), and the air inlet opening ( 20 ) is sealed by the pretensioning of at least one groove wall ( 26 ), which is provided as the annular membrane, at identical pressures on both sides of the air inlet opening ( 20 ) and at an overpressure on the inside of the cap, and when there is an underpressure on the inside of the cap, the air inlet opening ( 20 ) is opened. The invention also relates to a mouthpiece ( 1 ) for drinking from a liquid container, which is made, in essence, of elastic material and placed on a cap ( 2 ) provided with an inventive air valve ( 13 ).

The invention relates to an air valve for a lid of a liquid container,which includes an annular membrane, wherein said lid contains at leastone air passage opening, as well as a drinking mouthpiece of a liquidcontainer, which is made of a substantially elastic material andarranged on a lid including an air valve.

Various air valves for lids of liquid containers have already been knownfrom the prior art, which either are composed of relatively complexstructures or only ensure the reliable supply of air under particularpressure conditions.

An air valve in which an insert part including an air valve and adrinking valve is attached to the lower side of the lid is, forinstance, known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,973 A, wherein said air valveis comprised of a slot provided in a spherical segment, said sphericalsegment being enclosed by a groove and arranged to follow a cylindricalslip-on part. In order to enable the desired entry of air, a definedratio of the radius of the spherical segment, the length of the widenedslot as well as the diameter of the groove enclosing the sphericalsegment is provided. In a configuration of that type, the slot opening,however, frequently happens to inadvertently glue up such that airvalves of this type will only ensure an insufficiently air supply.

From DE 44 40 211 C1, a pressure-actuated container closure is known, inwhich a sealing part designed as an annular membrane, which seals thelid relative to its surroundings, is provided to compensate thepressure. When a particular pressure difference is exceeded, a gap iscleared between the elastic sealing part and a tube piece of an extendedcontainer shoulder to compensate the pressure.

Furthermore, a container closure including an air entry opening isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,149 A, wherein an air valve includingan annular membrane tightly lying against a cylindrical collarprojecting into the interior of the container is provided.

From DE 101 09 064 A1, an opening system including a reventilationmechanism is known, in which ventilation apertures arranged in the wallbetween an antechamber and the container exterior are provided to ensurea pressure compensation between the container interior and the containerexterior. A vent comprised of a lip made of a flexible material isprovided to close the ventilation apertures. The lip vent, thus,releases the ventilation aperture when a defined pressure difference isexceeded so as to nearly compensate for the underpressure prevailing inthe container. That lip, thus, seals against a wall of the lid or cappart.

It is the object of the invention to provide an air valve which issimply structured and, at the same time, reliably enables the entry ofair with an underpressure prevailing at the inner side of the lid.

With an air valve of the initially defined kind, this is achievedaccording to the invention in that a reception element including aperipheral groove that is open towards the inner side of the lid isfastened to the inner side of the lid and comprises at least one airentry opening communicating with the air passage opening of the lid andleading into the groove, wherein a ring is insertable or inserted in thegroove and the air entry opening is sealed at equal pressures on eitherside of the air entry opening and at an overpressure at the inner sideof the lid, due to the bias of at least one groove wall designed as anannular membrane, and the air entry opening is released at anunderpressure at the inner side of the lid.

By the aid of the ring insertable or inserted in a groove of a receptionpart, a structurally simple air valve reliably safeguarding the desiredentry of air with an underpressure prevailing at the inner side of thelid is, thus, provided. In addition, no complete pressure equalizationoccurs on both sides of the annular membrane on account of the bias ofthe annular membrane, so that a certain residual vacuum remains within aliquid container with the lid placed on said liquid container, whichresidual vacuum advantageously acts against any involuntary emergence ofliquid from the liquid container.

In order to provide a good sealing effect of the annular membraneresting on the ring in the non-used state, it is advantageous if the endregion of the ring facing the air entry opening of the reception elementin the inserted position of the ring is designed to be substantiallyconical in cross section.

If the the end region of the ring facing the air entry opening of thereception element in the inserted position of the ring comprises atleast one recess alignedly arranged with the air passage and air entryopenings in the inserted position of the ring, the unobstructed entry ofair will be reliably ensured in an advantageous manner.

If the ring is fixable or fixed in the reception element by the aid of asnap connection, a structurally particularly simple connection to beproduced in a cost-effective manner will be provided between the ringand the reception element.

In order to enable the inner groove wall to be configured as an annularmembrane, it is favorable if the ring comprises on its outer side acircumferential bead for snapping into the groove of the receptionelement. This is of particular advantage, since the inner groove wallmay, thus, be designed as an annular membrane and the air enteringthrough the air valve will consequently be conducted directly into theinterior of the liquid container.

If the annular membrane comprises at least one thin spot to fix the biasof the annular membrane, the residual vacuum left in the liquidcontainer in the position of non-use may be fixed in a simple manner asa function of the size, number and wall thickness of the thin spots.

If the ring, via an inwardly extending connection flange, is connectedwith a fastening ring extending in the direction of a preferably centrallid opening, it is feasible to fix, simultaneously with the insertion ofthe ring into the groove of the reception element, also a valve elementof a drinking valve, which is attached to the fastening ring.

If at least one ventilation aperture is provided in the connectionflange, air entered through the air passage opening provided in the lid,and air entered through the air entry opening provided in the receptionelement, will be able to unhamperedly enter the interior of a liquidcontainer on which a lid is placed.

In order to allow for the entry of air as unhampered as possible, it isadvantageous if the ventilation aperture of the connection flange, inthe inserted position of the ring, is located adjacent to the innergroove wall configured as an annular membrane.

As already pointed out in the beginning, the invention also relates to adrinking mouthpiece for a liquid container, wherein an air valveaccording to the invention is provided.

The manufacture of the drinking mouthpiece according to the inventionwill be feasible in a particularly simple manner, if the soft drinkingmouthpiece, which is preferably made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE),is produced by a multi-component injection molding process in one piecewith the hard lid, which is preferably made of polypropylene (PP). Itis, of course, also feasible to make the membrane and the drinkingmouthpiece of several components so as to enable a simple exchange ofthe membrane.

In a drinking mouthpiece which further comprises a valve assembly forthe passage of liquid from a liquid container, including a flexiblemembrane having at least one valve opening and a substantially rigidmembrane supporting element having at least one valve opening, wherein,with the valve assembly being in a closed position, the membrane restson the membrane supporting element and the valve opening of the membraneis sealingly covered by the membrane supporting element and the valveopening of the membrane supporting element is sealingly covered by themembrane, the membrane being inwardly curved in said closed position, itis beneficial if, during the external application of pressure to thedrinking mouthpiece and/or the application of an underpressure at themembrane side facing away from the membrane supporting element, themembrane is in a resnapped, outwardly curved open position in which thevalve openings of the membrane and membrane supporting element arereleased.

Due to the inward curvature of the membrane in its closed position, anddue to the membrane resnapping into an outwardly curved open position atthe application of an underpressure and/or the external application ofpressure to the drinking mouthpiece, the membrane will be in acomparably stable state in its open position during the suctionprocedure, in which the valve openings of the membrane and membranesupporting element will be reliably released so as to prevent the valveopening of the membrane from being immediately closed again by a slight,involuntary application of pressure to the membrane. Hence results avalve assembly that is particularly simple to handle and, in particular,enables the reliable removal of liquid, and which may be readily usedeven by children, who are not yet experienced in dealing with elasticdrinking mouthpieces, the interplay with the air valve reliably ensuringsufficient air supply too.

If the membrane is each substantially conical in its closed and openpositions, a comparatively stable state of the membrane will result,whereby the conical membrane will be readily caused to resnap into itsopen position by the exertion of pressure to the drinking mouthpiece aswell as the application of an underpressure.

In order to reliably ensure, in the closed position of the valveassembly, sealing between the valve openings provided in the membraneand in the membrane supporting element, respectively, it is advantageousif the membrane supporting element comprises a valve seat surfacesubstantially corresponding with the inwardly curved shape of themembrane in its closed position.

If the drinking mouthpiece comprises a latch groove intended to receivethe membrane supporting element configured as a latch body, the positionof the membrane supporting element will be reliably fixed in thedrinking mouthpiece, thus enabling the avoidance of involuntarydisplacements relative to the membrane, which may eventually lead tountightnesses in the closed position.

It is, furthermore, favorable, if the membrane supporting element isconnected with a fastening ring via a web in order to position themembrane supporting element in the drinking mouthpiece.

In order to provide high user comfort in the use of the drinkingmouthpiece and, in addition, reach a particular orientation of thedrinking mouthpiece within one's mouth during use, it is advantageous ifthe drinking mouthpiece is designed to be substantially oval in topview. However, it goes without saying that the drinking mouthpiece mayhave any other desired contour shape, shapes causing a particularorientation of the drinking mouthpiece during use being especiallybeneficial.

If the web used to fasten the membrane supporting element is designed ina plate-shaped manner with the plane defined by the plate-shaped webextending in the direction of the longer axis of the drinking mouthpiecein top view, biting of the soft drinking mouthpiece with teeth will beenabled, which will in turn facilitate drinking. Besides, the user'steeth will only contact the soft drinking mouthpiece in case of a fall,whereby injuries may be avoided. Moreover, the plate-shaped web, due toits plate-shaped configuration, will also exhibit a certain flexibilityin the direction of the shorter axis of the drinking mouthpiece, thusfurther reducing the risk of injury, especially due to a fall.

In order to reliably ensure the passage of liquid or liquid food throughthe membrane in its open position, it is advantageous if the membranecomprises several valve openings arranged along a circular line. In thiscontext, it is additionally beneficial if the membrane supportingelement comprises a substantially central valve opening.

In order to prevent the membrane from being inadvertently damaged, orinhibit a contact of the user's tongue with the membrane in itsresnapped, open position, it is advantageous if the mouthpiece extendsbeyond the membrane in the form of a drinking spout, whereby an elevateddrinking spout edge is formed as a membrane protection and spacerelement.

It is, moreover, advantageous if the membrane supporting element is madeof polypropylene (PP), since this will reliably help obtain a closure ofthe valve assembly in the inwardly curved closed position of themembrane.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by wayof a preferred exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, to whichit is, however, not limited. In detail:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a drinking mouthpiece including a drinkingvalve and an air valve;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through a drinking mouthpiece accordingto FIG. 1 in its assembled state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the drinking mouthpiece according toFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a section through the end portion of thedrinking mouthpiece including a membrane in its closed position;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a section through the end portion of thedrinking mouthpiece according to FIG. 4, yet with the membrane in theopen position;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a section through the air valve includingan annular membrane in its closed position;

FIG. 7 illustrates a section according to FIG. 6, yet with the annularmembrane in its open position;

FIG. 8 is a top view on the lid including the drinking mouthpiece whichis oval in cross section; and

FIG. 9 is a top view on the lid according to FIG. 8, sectioned alongline IX-IX of FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 depicts a soft drinking mouthpiece 1 made of a thermoplasticelastomer and placed on a lid 2 made of a hard synthetic material, forinstance propylene, wherein the drinking mouthpiece 1, which followsupon a, for instance, central lid opening 2′, and the lid 2 are producedin one piece by a two-component injection molding process. In the upperend portion 1′ of the drinking mouthpiece 1, a valve assembly 3 (cf.FIGS. 2 and 3) including a flexible membrane 4 formed in one piece withthe drinking mouthpiece 1 is provided as a drinking valve.

The membrane 4, in the unstressed, closed position illustrated in FIG.1, has an inwardly curved conical shape and four valve openings 5provided in its jacket surface along a circular line (cf. also FIGS. 4and 8). Following the membrane 5, a latch groove 6 is provided in theinterior of the drinking mouthpiece 1 to receive a membrane supportingelement 7. The membrane supporting element 7 is designed in asubstantially plate-shaped manner and provided with an upper valve seatsurface 8 that is inwardly curved in accordance with the conical shapeof the membrane 4.

The membrane supporting element 7 is connected with a fastening ring 10via a plate-shaped web 9 to secure the membrane supporting element 7 tothe lid 2.

As is particularly apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, in which the membranesupporting element 7 is shown in a position received in the latch groove6 of the drinking mouthpiece 1, the insertion of a ring 11, which isconnected with the fastening ring 10 of the plate-shaped web 9 via aconnection flange 12, at the same time causes the formation of an airvalve 13 and the fixation of the membrane reception element 7 in thedrinking mouthpiece 1 for the formation of the drinking valve 3.

The mode of functioning of the valve assembly 3 configured as a drinkingvalve and including the membrane 4 and the membrane supporting element 7is particularly apparent from the detailed views shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,the membrane 4 being shown in its inwardly curved, closed position inFIG. 4 and in its outwardly curved, open position in FIG. 5.

As is apparent from FIG. 4, the valve openings 5 of the membrane 4 intheir closed positions rest on the full-surface valve seat surface 8 ofthe membrane supporting element 7 and a central valve opening 15 of thesupporting element 7 is covered by the end face of the conical membrane4 so as to prevent the passage of liquid in the closed position of themembrane 4.

Furthermore, FIG. 4 depicts a detail of the latch groove 6 of theelastic drinking mouthpiece 1, in which the membrane supporting element7 is received by a snap-in connection. The membrane 4 bordersimmediately on the latch groove 6, an annular latch tongue 16 of themembrane supporting element 7 forming kind of a tilting surface toenable the membrane 4 to resnap from its inwardly curved, closedposition into its outwardly curved, open position illustrated in FIG. 5.

It is further apparent from FIG. 4 that the drinking mouthpiece 1comprises an elevated edge 17 extending beyond the membrane 4, whichserves to protect the membrane and, at the same time, is designed as aspacer element to prevent the membrane 4 from projecting beyond the edge17 even in its outwardly curved, open position (cf. FIG. 5). Thus,access to the membrane 4 is rendered difficult such that an undesiredresnapping of the membrane will be further complicated.

FIG. 5 shows the membrane 4 under a compression force externally appliedperpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the drinking mouthpiece 1in the sense of arrow 18 and automatically resulting from theapplication pressure of the lips exerted during drinking or sucking, orfrom an underpressure at the drinking mouthpiece 1 during a drinking orsucking movement. In this case, the membrane 4 resnaps into itsoutwardly curved, open position releasing the valve opening 15 providedin the membrane supporting element 7 as well as the valve openings 5 ofthe membrane 4, which are distributedly arranged along a circular linein the jacket surface of the conical membrane 4, whereby liquid orliquid food can be taken through the drinking mouthpiece 1. As soon asunderpressure is no longer applied to the outer side of the membrane 4,and the force acting in the sense of arrow 18 does no longer act whenthe drinking mouthpiece 1 is set off the lips, the membraneautomatically snaps back into its closed position shown in FIG. 4 so asto enable liquid or liquid food such as, for instance, milk diet to bereadily taken from a liquid container and, at the same time, ensure adrip-free and perfectly sealing valve assembly in a position of non-use.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict in detail the air valve 13 also apparent from FIGS.2 and 3, which comprises air passage openings 19 provided in the lid 2,and air entry openings 20 communicating with the former and provided ina reception element 21 (cf. also FIG. 1) which is produced in one piecewith the lid 2 via a flange 22 by a two-component injection moldingprocess. The flange 22 is, moreover, surrounded by a sealing ring 23(cf. FIG. 1), which is provided for the tight closure of the apron-likelid 2 with the bottleneck of a liquid container, the lid 2 beingfastened to the bottleneck either by the aid of screws or by a snap-inconnection.

The annular reception element 21 comprises a groove 24 (cf. FIG. 1),into which the ring 11 is inserted. The ring 11 comprises on its outercircumference a bead 25, via which the ring 11 can be fastened withinthe groove 24 of the reception element 21 by a snap-in connection.

In the closed position of the air valve 13 illustrated in FIG. 6, theinner groove wall 26 of the reception element 21, which is designed asan annular membrane, due to its bias lies sealingly against the ring 11inserted in the groove 24, wherein the inner groove wall 26 comprisesthin spots 27 (cf. FIG. 1) to fix its bias and, hence, accordinglydetermine the residual vacuum present in the position of non-use of adrinking bottle.

If, however, an underpressure is applied at the drinking mouthpiece 1 bythe drinking or sucking movement of a user, the annular membrane 26 willbe slightly lifted off an end region of the ring 11, which is designedas a sealing cone 28, so that external air will be allowed to enterthrough the air passage openings 19 provided in the lid 2, the air entryopenings 20 provided in the reception element 21 and the recesses 29provided in the sealing cone 28 in alignment with the air passageopenings 19 and the air entry openings 20 (cf. FIG. 7).

In addition, ventilation apertures 30 are provided in the connectionflange 12 via which the ring 11 is connected with the fastening ring 10of the web 9 to fasten the membrane supporting element 7 (cf. FIG. 1),which ventilation apertures register with the air passage openings 19and the air entry openings 20 in the inserted position of the ring so asto enable the unhampered entry of air into a liquid container in thesense of arrow 31.

Since the insertion of the ring 11 into the groove 24, at the same time,causes the installation of the membrane supporting element 7 in thedrinking mouthpiece 1, a largely drip-free liquid container will beobtained when using the lid 2 by combining the air valve 13 with thedrinking valve 3, said container being particularly suitable as adietary aid for administering milk diets.

From FIGS. 8 and 9 it is, in particular, apparent that the drinkingmouthpiece 1 is designed to be oval in top view such that the drinkingmouthpiece 1, when in use, can be received by the mouth only in aparticular orientation, namely its transversely oval orientation.

As can be taken particularly from FIG. 9, the web 9 of the membranesupporting element 7, in its position received by the mouth, is orientedto be flat between the teeth so as to enable the biting with teeth, orcompression, of the soft drinking mouthpiece 1 in the sense of arrow 18in order to promote the resnapping procedure of the membrane 4 into itsopen position illustrated in FIG. 5. In addition, the teeth of, inparticular, children will be largely protected by the soft drinkingmouthpiece 1 in case of a fall, since no direct contact with thesubstantially stiffer web 9 will occur. Besides, the overall drinkingmouthpiece 1 including the web 9 is also flexible in the direction ofits smaller axis so as to enable yielding in the event of involuntary,shock-like movements. Furthermore, the stiffer membrane supportingelement 7 plus the web 9, fastening ring 10 and ring 11 will also bepressed inwards in case of a fall, since they are inserted in the latchgroove 6 of the drinking mouthpiece 1, and the snap-in connection in thegroove 24 of the reception element, merely by the snap-in connection,which will further reduce the risk of injury due to a fall.

1. An air valve for a lid of a liquid container, which includes anannular membrane, wherein said lid contains at least one air passageopening, said air valve comprising a reception element including aperipheral groove that is open towards the inner side of the lid isfastened to the inner side of the lid and comprises at least one airentry opening communicating with the air passage opening of the lid andleading into the groove, wherein a ring is insertable or inserted in thegroove and the air entry opening is sealed at equal pressures on eitherside of the air entry opening and at an overpressure at the inner sideof the lid, due to the bias of at least one groove wall designed as anannular membrane, and the air entry opening is released at anunderpressure at the inner side of the lid.
 2. An air valve according toclaim 1, wherein the end region of the ring facing the air entry openingof the reception element in the inserted position of the ring isdesigned to be substantially conical in cross section.
 3. An air valveaccording to claim 2, wherein the end region of the ring facing the airentry opening of the reception element in the inserted position of thering comprises at least one recess.
 4. An air valve according to claim1, wherein the ring is fixable or fixed in the reception element by theaid of a snap connection.
 5. An air valve according to claim 4, whereinthe ring comprises on its outer side a circumferential bead for snappinginto the groove of the reception element.
 6. An air valve according toclaim 1, wherein the inner groove wall is designed as an annularmembrane.
 7. An air valve according to claim 1, wherein the annularmembrane comprises at least one thin spot to fix the bias of the annularmembrane.
 8. An air valve according to claim 1, wherein the ring isconnected with a fastening ring extending in the direction of apreferably central lid opening, via an inwardly extending connectionflange.
 9. An air valve according to claim 8, wherein at least oneventilation opening is provided in the connection flange.
 10. An airvalve according to claim 9, wherein the ventilation opening of theconnection flange, in the inserted position of the ring, is locatedadjacent to the inner groove wall designed as an annular membrane.
 11. Adrinking mouthpiece of a liquid container, which is made of asubstantially elastic material and arranged on a lid including an airvalve according to claim
 1. 12. A drinking mouthpiece according to claim11, wherein the soft drinking mouthpiece, is produced by amulti-component injection molding process in one piece with the hardlid.
 13. A drinking mouthpiece according to claim 12, further comprisinga valve assembly for the passage of liquid from a liquid container,which includes a flexible membrane having at least one valve opening anda substantially rigid membrane supporting element having at least onevalve opening, wherein, with the valve assembly being in a closedposition, the membrane rests on the membrane supporting element and thevalve opening of the membrane is sealingly covered by the membranesupporting element and the valve opening of the membrane supportingelement is sealingly covered by the membrane, the membrane beinginwardly curved in said closed position, wherein, during the externalapplication of pressure to the drinking mouthpiece and/or theapplication of an underpressure at the membrane side facing away fromthe membrane supporting element, the membrane is in a resnapped,outwardly curved open position in which the valve openings of themembrane and membrane supporting element, respectively, are released.14. A drinking mouthpiece according to claim 13, wherein the membrane issubstantially conical in its closed and open positions.
 15. A drinkingmouthpiece according to claim 13, wherein the membrane supportingelement comprises a valve seat surface substantially corresponding withthe inwardly curved shape of the membrane in its closed position.
 16. Adrinking mouth piece according to claim 13, wherein the drinkingmouthpiece comprises a latch groove intended to receive the membranesupporting element configured as a latch body.
 17. A drinking mouthpieceaccording to claim 13, wherein the membrane supporting element isconnected with a fastening ring via a web.
 18. A drinking mouthpieceaccording to claim 13, wherein the drinking mouthpiece is designed to besubstantially oval in top view.
 19. A drinking mouthpiece according toclaim 18, wherein the web used to fasten the membrane supporting elementis designed in a plate-shaped manner with the plane defined by theplate-shaped web extending in the direction of the longer axis of thedrinking mouthpiece in top view.
 20. A drinking mouthpiece according toclaim 13, wherein the membrane comprises several valve openings arrangedalong a circular line.
 21. A drinking mouthpiece according to claim 13,wherein the membrane supporting element comprises a substantiallycentral valve opening.
 22. A valve assembly according to claim 13,wherein the mouthpiece, formed as a drinking spout, extends beyond themembrane, whereby an elevated drinking spout edge is formed as amembrane protection and spacer element.
 23. A drinking mouthpieceaccording to claim 13, wherein the membrane supporting element is madeof polypropylene (PP).
 24. A drinking mouthpiece according to claim 12,wherein the soft drinking mouthpiece is made of a thermoplasticelastomer (TPE), and the hard lid is made of polypropylene (PP).